THE SPRINGFIELD ART ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES THE SAA COLLECTIVE AT THE HOOGLAND CENTER FOR THE ARTS

The Springfield Art Association (SAA) is pleased to announce a new facet of exhibitions and programming through the newly established SAA Collective at the Hoogland Center for the Arts. The SAA Collective marks a new face and identity to what was formerly the Prairie Art Alliance, which has been absorbed into the rich and varied structure of the SAA.

The SAA Collective is at once a physical commercial sales gallery and a professional hub for artists based in Springfield and Central Illinois, and also extends the SAA presence into Downtown Springfield. SAA Collective artists are juried into the collective, and as collective members, artists are afforded gallery representation, feature exhibition opportunities, professional development, and the structure of a community of working artists with which to engage and grow. The SAA Collective serves both established artists as well as emerging artists. A current call for applicants has been issued with a June 11 deadline, and details on the process can be found on our Juried Artists Membership page.

Over the past several years, the SAA has been working to evolve and redefine the role of community arts and culture in Springfield, and the development of the SAA Collective is another step in the direction of a well-rounded community center that orbits around an intricate core of visual arts. The SAA Collective grows the existing spectrum of exhibition programming already established through the SAA: exhibitions from local and national artists of prominence take place at the recently-renovated M.G. Nelson Family Gallery, and the SAA also lends a home to DEMO Project, an artist-run alternative space dedicated to contemporary and experimental art. The SAA Collective rounds out this variety with a focus on operating as a sales gallery, serving both the SAA Collective artists as well as community collectors.

The community can anticipate a wide variety of high-caliber works in a range of media, technique, and style at the SAA Collective, and at a variety of price points. “The SAA Collective aspires to be the premier spot for original works of art from our leading community artists,” says Betsy Dollar, Executive Director of the SAA. “We are only in the beginning phases of cultivating the Collective, and we are working to articulate the needs and wants of our community and community artists. As with all things SAA, we are open to transition and growth, and we are excited to see where this new venture leads us in Springfield.”

The SAA Collective is located within the Hoogland Center for the Arts, and is open Tuesday - Wednesday from 10 AM - 5 PM, and Thursday - Saturday from NOON - 7 PM. All SAA Collective exhibits and events are free and open to the public. For more information, please explore our website at or contact the SAA, info below.